Of all the adaptations of the story of Jesus, I've always felt that The Greatest Story Ever Told is one of the best and one of the most truest to the story itself. I would like to moderate that statement that I also believe the same of Jesus Christ Superstar and The Last Temptation of Christ, though naturally for vastly different reasons.
Max Von Sydow brings something to the role of Jesus that no other actor ever has...a sort of undefinable picture of majesty and humility at the same time. I think it must be his eyes. Charlton Heston's John the Baptist is one of the best performances of his career, and Jose Ferrer is wonderfully subdued as King Herod. David McCallum is good as Judas, but his performance is a tad wooden at times.
The big selling point of this film, outside of the Story, is the all-star cast that accompanies it. Actually, if you can manage to forget about the many "cameos", you will enjoy this movie much more. The miscasting is not quite as bad as The Story of Mankind, but John Wayne as a Roman Soldier just doesn't sit well.
This and The Ten Commandments should be required viewing for everyone, and not just Christians. This is a wonderful movie and really does relate one of the greatest stories ever told.
Max Von Sydow brings something to the role of Jesus that no other actor ever has...a sort of undefinable picture of majesty and humility at the same time. I think it must be his eyes. Charlton Heston's John the Baptist is one of the best performances of his career, and Jose Ferrer is wonderfully subdued as King Herod. David McCallum is good as Judas, but his performance is a tad wooden at times.
The big selling point of this film, outside of the Story, is the all-star cast that accompanies it. Actually, if you can manage to forget about the many "cameos", you will enjoy this movie much more. The miscasting is not quite as bad as The Story of Mankind, but John Wayne as a Roman Soldier just doesn't sit well.
This and The Ten Commandments should be required viewing for everyone, and not just Christians. This is a wonderful movie and really does relate one of the greatest stories ever told.